Ironing-machine.



R. L. ASHTON.

momma MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14,1915.

1,183,157. Era-LL- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c

Patented May16, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. L. ASHTON.

IRONING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- l4, 1 915.

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n P. I I I I .II M u? ROBERT L. ASHTON, OF RENOVO, PENNSYLVANIA.

IRONING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed October 14, 1915. Serial No. 55,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. ASHTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Renovo, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful Improvements in ironing machines and method of ironing and has for its primary object a machine and method which enables the ironing to be expeditiously and continuously performed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ironing method wherein the article is ironed upon two opposite faces without turning or inverting same.

In accordance with the present invention, which is herein illustrated as particularly adapted for ironing collars, the latter are first ironed on their wrong sides and with their right sides up following which the collars are placed by the operator with their righ sides still up on one half of a movable table as quickly as ironed. The table is, upon reaching its limit of capacity, moved to bring the right sides of the collars into engagement with an iron, such movement of the table bringing the remaining half there of into position for receiving successive collars which are similarly and initially ironed on their wrong sides so that the latter collars may be positioned right side up on the table. The last named half of the table is now moved to bring the collars thereon into contact with the iron so as to iron the latter collars on their right sides while the collars initially placed on the table may be removed and replaced by other collars which have just been ironed on their wrong sides, thus providing a continuous and uninterrupted method of ironing the collars which eliminates any possible waste of time in effecting the several ironing operations.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partly broken away and in section; Fig.3 is an elevational side view of the machine; and Fig. 1 is a side elevation, the table being broken away.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, a frame 1, is employed which has a top roller 2 mounted for vertical movement therein, which roller cooperates with a lower ironing roller 3. The roller 2 is faced with padded fabric so as to absorb moisture-from the collar during ironing of the latter. A hand lever 4 is pivoted at 5 to the frame 1 and in turn is pivoted to the lower end of a link 6, the latter being pivoted at? to a pivoted bearing 8 which provides a journaling means for the upper roller 2. A toothed rack 4: enables lever 4 to be held stationary if desired. A table 9 is positioned so as to allow the op erator to feed the collars right side up be tween the rollers and'to manipulate the up per roller so as to bring the desired pressure onthe collars during the initial ironing operation. Y

An inclined chute or way 10 is disposed below a stripper 11 associated with the roller 2, so that the collars will gravitate down the chute to the front of the machine in ai position readily accessible to a second operator stationed at the machine front.

A stationary ironing bed 12 is appropriately secured to the frame 1 between the front and rear thereof and coacts with a revoluble bed or table 13 which latter is pivoted at its center on a suitable stub shaft let so that the table may rotate with its center-as an axis of rotation. In order to efiect upward movement of the bed or table 13 so as to effect proper degree of pressure against the stationary ironing surface or bed 12, means are employed preferably. consisting of a series of curved arms 15 which frictionally bear at their upper free ends against the bottom of the table so as not to interfere with free rotation of the table, the latter having vertical movement upon the stubshaft 14: when the arms 15 are actuated to bear against and raise the table. Preferably the arms 15 are mounted on or'carried by a piston 16 reciprocating within a cylinder 17 which latter may be hydraulically connected and controlled so as to impel the piston upwardly.

Any suitable means may be employed for effecting rotation of the lower cylinder 3,

- such for example as a worm gear 18 actuated by a worm 19, and theusual loose and fast pulleys 20 and 21.

An eccentric 30 is mounted on the shaft 31 which carries worm 19 and actuates a ring 32 which in turn is connected to the piston 33 of a pump cylinder 34, the latter having a pipe connection with a reser- Voir 36 whereby air will, during the operation of the machine, be compressed and stored in reservoir 36 and lead from the latter by pipe 38 to cylinder 17, to actuate the hollow piston 16.

As depicted in Fig. 4, the table 13 is cored on its under face and provided with apertures 37 extending throughout the area of the table to admit air to the padding 38 of said table from beneath the padding to maintain the padding dry.

It will be understood that it is immaterial whether the collars be initially ironed on their right or wrong sides, since the invention contemplates this as optional with the operator.

The operation is as follows: The operator at the rear of the machine feeds the collars right side up through the rollers or cylinders 2 and 3, proper pressure to effect the ironing being provided by manipulation of the lever 4. The collars right side up are ironed by roller 3 on their wrong sides and in this position gravitate down the way 10, and are manually removed by a second. operator at the front of the machine, who takes the collars and places same without turning or inversion of the same down on the rotatable table 13, until the capacity of the latter is reached at the part of the rotary table fronting the operator. The operator, upon the aforesaid part of the table being filled with collars, the latter being preferably arranged in rows of regulable order, rotates the table to bring the filled part thereof into register with the stationary bed 12, whereupon the table 13 is raised to bring the collars into ironing engagement with the stationary bed 12 and is retained in such engagement as long a period of time as is necessary to effect proper ironing of the collars on their right sides. During the time or subsequent to the time which the table 13 with its collars is retained raised in ironing engagement with bed 12, the operator at the front of the machine is placing other partially ironed collars which are continuously being moved down the way 10 onto the unfilled or vacant part of the table 13, which 1. In an ironing machine, a frame, a

stub shaft supported thereby, a circular table having a continuous surface pivoted at its center upon the shaft, and adapted to move vertically thereon, astationary bed cooperatingwith the table, and means independent of the stub shaft, and operating under the table for moving the table into engagement with the, stationary bed whereby any portion of the table may be moved vertically into cooperation with the stationary bed.

2. Inan ironing machine, a frame,,a stub shaft supported thereby, .a circular table having a continuous surface pivoted at its center upon the shaft, and adapted to move vertically thereon, a stationary bed cooperating with the table, a piston operating under the table, laterally extending arms carried by the piston, means for movingthe arms vertically into engagement with the under side of the table, whereby any portion of the table may be moved vertically into cooperation with-the stationary bed, one of the arms adapted to engage the table adjacent the periphery thereof, and the other arm adapted to engage the table adjacent the stub shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. ASHTON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E..WOERNLE, JosEPH HABERSTROH.

copiei of this patent may be obtained for. live cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patentu Washington, D. G." 

